Thursday, October 31, 2013

Meiko Naturactor Cover Face and MC Collection Review + Swatches







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I was going to say that I owe my "Aunt" a huge favor but then I just recently found out that she's not actually an "Aunt" but just my COUSIN!! Talk about shock! O.o
Anyways, the photos from the Meiko Store are from her.








She and my cousin err... niece went to the Meiko Store in Kofu, Japan just to buy my stuff that I kept raving about!

When I get hyped about a product I always do my research if it has fakes or what etc. And so I was looking for Meiko's official website from Japan but the Malaysian branch's website was the only thing popping up and finally this: http://www.meikocosmetics.co.jp/catalog_e/index.html
Which got me confused because the copyright at the bottom says 2003-2009 only and I thought "did they got bankrupt or something?" Until the next day their site finally popped up! But there was a problem...


Everything's in Japanese!!! Even Google translate wasn't enough because a lot of the texts are images. ;(
It did helped though.

I searched the site looking for the Naturactor Cover Face concealer foundation and the only thing I found was this: http://meikoshop.com/53_mccf.html





That was the nearest thing I could find to what I was looking for and so I panicked! Is the white Naturactor fake?! Because that's the only thing that my cousin in Japan found and she said she looked everywhere even online! Then I thought to myself: "Could this be a new packaging?"

Good thing I got to talk to someone (who is staying in Japan) on a forum and found out that the white one is really not shown in their website and can only be bought in their stores or through phone and fax. It was their first version of the concealer foundation and it was used by celebrities in the Philippines for quite some time. No one knew their secret until they endorsed it in Instagram and when they did a lot of people got curious and went GAGA for it!



Now who wouldn't want to look like these pretty celebrities? There's even been rumors that most if not all ABS CBN celebrities use this! We all know how flawless their makeup looks like on TV, right?


 A little overview about the Meiko Cover Face products:


According to my research....


 NATURACTOR Cover Face concealer foundation is the First version and also the cheapest. This is the much RAVED about product here in the Philippines. It is said to not contain any sunscreen thus no white cast in pictures! ♥

Price: I got mine for 825 Yen/ 361PHP. Local prices range from P550- P1200 



Ingredients: Jojoba Oil - improve dry and flaky skin. 
Mica - moisture your skin,in smaller portions will still offer this benefit for youthful looking skin without the added irritation. 
Tocopherol, Vitamin E - improving metabolism and immune system skin. 

I think these are not consistent as these are too dark and purplish so I edited them a bit to better show their true colors:






The OCTARD Cover Foundation is the second and improved version of the Cover Face from Meiko. The price is a bit higher than Naturactor. It is said to be more moist and has UV protection and protects against sweat and water. 

Price: Meiko shop: 840 Yen.  Local sellers: P850-P950 (so far)


(From Meiko Japan website) Contains: Squalane agent scattering ultraviolet (moisturizing ingredient)

(From Meiko Malaysia website) Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Royal jelly extract preparation, Honey 

(From http://www.cosdna.comTitanium (IV) oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Mica,  C14-15 Dialkyl Carbonate, Iron Oxides, Polyetheyline, Dextrin Palmitate, Squalene, Vitamin E, Amuminum Hydroxide, Stearic acid, Propylparaben, Butyl Paraben. 

Judging from the ingredients this version seems to be best for dry skin (though they say it's for all skin types )and has UV protection unlike the previous version which is Naturactor.

I also browsed the shades of this and they all seemed pinkish but there's a yellow concealer that can help "warm-up" the color for those with yellowish or warm skintone. Now I get why my cousin has the yellow and a skintone shade of this as the SA of Meiko used both on her.

Swatch from meikocosmetics.com.my




And finally the MC COLLECTION is the third and latest version of the Cover Face. The priciest of the three. It is said to have the best formulation of the three and is made for sensitive and acne prone skin! The texture is said to be creamy and silky. 

Price: Meiko shop: 1,260 yen, I got mine for 1,360 Yen/594PHP.  Local stores sell them for P850-P1000 (so far)


(From Meiko Japan Website) Contains: VCIP <persistent oil-soluble vitamin C derivative> Tetraisopalmitate ascorbyl] (moisturizing ingredient), jojoba seed oil (moisturizing ingredient)


(From Meiko Japan Website) Ingredients labeling:
Kishirudekan ascorbyl, polyethelene, ethylhexyl, methoxycinnamate, tocopherol, fragrance myristate isocetyl, mica, poly (methyl methacrylate), malic acid diisotearyl, oleic acid Porigureiriru - 2, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, jojoba seed oil, to tetra, t-butyl methoxy dibenzoyl methane, butyl paraben, propyl paraben, (+/-) titanium oxide, iron oxide, hydroxide, A1, blue 404

Also from Meiko website Japan: Feature
Ingredients derived from vitamin humidity retention]
VCIP <persistent oil-soluble vitamin C derivative> (Tetraisopalmitate ascorbyl)
and I make treatment while hiding and two millet and trace? stain freckles.
Err...I think they mean to say that it helps treat acne(millet?), blemishes and freckles while hiding them...
The [humidity retention vegetable (emollient) ingredient]
Jojoba seed oil
so as to extend smoothly on the skin and does not dry not it like powder.
Uhm, I guess this is to prolong the smoothness on the skin and so that it doesn't cake(?) or dry like powder. 

Swatches and image below from Meiko website



I also searched for reviews but there was no local reviews about MC Collection and Octard. I only found some Malaysian reviews that I struggled to understand with Google translate again. 

Having sensitive acne prone skin I got curious about the MC Collection. Aside from the ingredients I noticed that they have the widest color range. I haven't seen a Naturator concealer in person nor do I know my MAC shade so I got crazy and bought almost all the shades!!! O.o That's all shades in Naturactor + the 2 darker shades in MC Collection!

But alas! The green one in the Naturactor was out of stock so I got the one from MC! So now I have 4 Naturactors and 3 MC Collection. Ah, the painter side of me must've made me get all shades! I loooooveee blending! I plan to paint mah face! Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! But bad move! I didn't get the yellow!!!!
 TT.TT 

Even if I don't get to use all colors on my face it's okay since I sometimes do makeup on other people too. ;p

I know that the shades of naturactor are very light and I really wanted more options because not everyone here in the Philippines are that light.

I asked my cousin what the darker shades looked like from the MC Collection. I figured I can mix the shades. EXCITING!!!! XD

This is the shade 150 and is the darkest.






This one is the shade 152 and the second darkest. 
Do you see how close it is on the color of her hand? I know my cousin has light skin. I really felt this one is my shade!






And finally, my LOOT from the Meiko Counter!!! ♥.♥





And now these are the pictures I took when I got my babies!





Here is my review as promised!

First off, I just got these yesterday and took initial swatches last night and it turned out the shade 152 from MC collection as my perfect match. I took a shower this morning using Tokyo Love Soap original and I was surprised that 152 looked a little dark on me today. Did I get lighter THAT fast?






Anyways here are the swatches. The Naturactor shades I have are 130, 140, 141 and 151 while the MC Collection shades I have are 171(green),152 and 150.


Meiko

Naturactor Face Cover and MC Collection Swatches

Click image to enlarge. Open image in new tab for even bigger image. ♥


As you can see, my veins appear green as I have yellow undertones. The Naturactor shade 151 seemed to be a better match this time than 152 of MC Collection. I think my shade in the between the two. I'll try mixing them to get my perfect shade. :)

Today I tried a little experiment, I used naturactor 151 on the left side of my face and the MC Collection shade 152 on my right to see their difference.

                                   Naturactor                                                    MC Collection

SMELL           ♥♥♥♥                                                                     ♥♥♥♥
                        Faint chin chun su-like that doesn't bother me          Faint too and slightly more citrus scent

TEXTURE       ♥♥♥♥                                                                    ♥♥♥♥
                       Differs with each shade                                            Differs with each shade

FINISH           ♥♥♥♥♥                                                                 ♥♥♥♥♥
                       Matte natural finish                                                   Matte but slightly satiny and more natural looking

PRICE             ♥♥♥                                                                         ♥♥
                        825 Yen/ 361 Pesos                                               1360Yen/ 594 Pesos
         

AVAILABILITY    ♥♥♥                                                                    ♥♥
                        Japan and Local online Sellers                                Japan and very few Local Sellers

COVERAGE      ♥♥♥♥                                                                     ♥♥♥♥

FEEL                 ♥♥♥♥♥                                                                   ♥♥♥♥♥+♥
                           Very light on my skin as if I don't have make-up at all!





I'll update you guys with more pictures (with better lighting) of swatches, my face (maybe) with before and after application, and more verdict or result changes if there will be and detailed description of each color. :)

I also probably missed a lot of things lol! Newbe Reviewer here! ;p Comment away on any questions you want to ask me and if you have any suggestions please let me know! :)



Til' my next update! ♥



Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Japanese Beauty Products Preview!

Hi again!


Here is my second preview for the day!

These are my Japanese Skincare and Make-up Review line-up!

HADA LABO Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion






HADA LABO Shirojyun Arbutin Whitening Lotion






HADA LABO Shirojyun Travel kit (Make-up remover, Facewash, Lotion(toner), and Milk(moisturizer))






HADA LABO BB cream



Cure Natural Aqua Gel





K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Eyeliner in Super Black

(The Hada Labo Retinol line is not mine! :p)



Tokyo Love Soaps in Original, Premium and Professional








Watch out for the individual reviews SOON!!! <3<3<3
XOXO


Meiko Naturactor Cover Face and MC Collection Preview!

Hi guys!

 So I have a lot lined up for reviews and these are one of them! Meiko Naturactor foundation is sooo raved about these days that I asked my Aunt in Japan to buy me some. Since I was on the look out for the best concealer ever!

This is such a popular product in the Philippines and Malaysia that I found out (through research) that there are fakes of these! I don't want to risk buying fakes online and I don't want to shell out on pricey ones on stores so I thought it's best to get it straight from Japan (as fakes are prohibited in Japan!)


 Here are my babies hot off the Meiko Store counter!)


They will arrive around November so watch-out for the FULL REVIEW!!! <3<3<3